Illicit alcohol crisis in Uganda: 65% of alcohol is unsafe, unregulated, and deadly.
By Hope Mafaranga
A damning new report has exposed the true scale of Uganda’s alcohol crisis, revealing that nearly two-thirds of all alcohol consumed in the country is unsafe, unregulated, and often laced with toxic substances.
The report, titled “Public Health Implications of the Harmful Consumption of Illicit Alcohol in Uganda,” was jointly released by the Coalition Against Illicit Alcohol Uganda (CAIA-UG) and the Arrow Empirical Research Institute.
Based on extensive fieldwork and laboratory analyses conducted in Kampala City and Arua district, the white paper presents alarming evidence that 65% of alcohol consumed in Uganda is illicit, posing severe health risks and social challenges, especially among the youth and low-income communities.
“This is not just a public health emergency. It is a crisis of dignity, a tragedy of wasted potential, and a national wake-up call,” warned Dr. Kennedy Niwagaba, Director of Research at Arrow Empirical Research and Skills Enhancement.
The toxic reality
Dr. Niwagaba said that illicit alcohol is omnipresent, found in homes, at funerals, on street corners, and during celebrations. It's predominantly unbranded, made outside the legal framework, and lacks any regulatory oversight for quality and safety.
The report indicates that 83% of surveyed patrons had consumed illicit alcohol in the previous week.
From left is Prof. Tumwesugye, Dr. Niwagaba, Dr. Kamaara and Prof. Sidebe during the launch of the White paper at Sheraton Hotel. Photo by Hope Mafaranga
Laboratory tests showed that many of the sampled spirits had alcohol by volume (ABV) levels exceeding 44.2%, with some samples containing dangerously high levels of methanol up to 640.59 mg/L. This is far above the World Health Organisation’s recommended methanol threshold of 50 mg/L for human consumption.
“High ABV causes liver cirrhosis, esophageal and other cancers,” Dr. Niwagaba said. “Methanol, in such quantities, leads to blindness, organ failure, and even death.”
He added that exposure to this toxic brew has significantly contributed to rising hospital admissions, mental health deterioration, family conflicts, and addiction among Ugandans, particularly men over the age of 25. These men have shown increased prevalence of liver cirrhosis and esophageal cancer.
A nation drinking itself sick
The report notes that 13% of all respondents showed signs of alcohol dependence, and four in ten people admitted to drinking every single day.
Alarmingly, 58% of men and 42% of women surveyed were daily consumers of illicit alcohol.
Brewing sites were also found to be operating under hazardous and unsanitary conditions.
A senior lawyer Fred Muwema interacting with Dr. Catherine Mwebesa during the launch of the White paper
“In both Kampala and Arua, we saw alcohol being brewed using unsafe water and unclean tools in dirty environments. This puts people at risk of foodborne illnesses like diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea,” Dr. Niwagaba noted.
A social and economic scourge
Professor Myriam Sidibe, co-chair of CAIA-UG, said illicit alcohol has silently devastated families and communities, costing lives and sabotaging development.
“Uganda is losing generations to unregulated alcohol produced under unsafe conditions. This is not just a public health crisis; it is a human rights issue,” Sidibe said.
She emphasized that illicit spirits are widely available and sold in plastic bottles for as little as 1,000 shillings, making them dangerously affordable.
Consumers reportedly drink up to 3.4 liters per session, often using alcohol as an escape from stress, poverty, and unemployment.
“For too long, illicit alcohol has operated in the shadows, devastating lives, stealing futures, and weakening the very fabric of our society. It’s driving preventable deaths, hospitalizations, gender-based violence, economic hardship, and addiction,” she said.
Children and youth endangered
National data shows that 61% of alcohol users began drinking before turning 18, with 31% starting as early as 14.
Despite legal prohibitions, underage drinking remains rampant. Dr. Niwagaba said 19% of illicit alcohol producers admitted to selling to minors, while 39% of patrons reported first drinking alcohol before the age of 18.
He also said early alcohol use has also been linked to unsafe sex, cognitive impairment, criminal behavior, and poor academic performance.
Prof. Nazarius Tumwesigye from Makerere University School of Public Health painted a worrying picture among youth.
He said 30.8% of adolescent boys and young men aged 10–24 in Kampala reported ever consuming alcohol, with 10.5% having drunk alcohol in the past 30 days.
“In Kampala’s slums, 31% of youth aged 12–18 reported drinking in the past year, with many showing signs of problem drinking,” Tumwesigye said.
He also noted that 35.2% of university students reported alcohol use, with 7% categorized as high-end users. Adverse childhood experiences such as neglect, violence, and hunger have also been identified as major drivers of early alcohol initiation in urban poor communities.
Calls for stronger policies and enforcement
Juliet Namukasa, chairperson of the Uganda Alcohol Policy Alliance (UAPA), called for urgent government intervention, including stricter laws, better enforcement, and more public education.
“Although the legal drinking age is 18, enforcement is weak. We propose raising it to 21 to protect our youth,” Namukasa said.
She called for strengthening law enforcement and involving local leaders in tackling illegal alcohol operations. “We also need nationwide awareness campaigns to educate the public, especially in low-income areas, about the risks associated with illicit alcohol.”
Dr. Alfred Jatho, head of community cancer services at the Uganda Cancer Institute, urged the government to overhaul alcohol tax policies and direct 5% of excise revenues towards alcohol prevention and rehabilitation services.
“We need to operationalize the National Alcohol Control Policy and support it with strong legislation. Kenya’s model offers a good example, but we must ensure proper enforcement and funding,” Dr. Jatho said.
He emphasized that the Ministry of Finance must allocate resources and align Uganda’s alcohol control efforts with regional best practices.
National effort needed
Dr. Christine Charity Mwebesa, Special Presidential Assistant in charge of Economic Affairs, said a multi-sectoral approach was crucial to tackling the crisis.
“Stakeholders must work together with government to launch a national initiative that includes strong enforcement, economic alternatives, public education, and youth protection,” she said.
Dr. Nicholas Kamara, chairperson of the Parliamentary Forum on Non-Communicable Diseases, linked Uganda’s growing burden of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and cancer to chronic alcohol abuse.
“I treat patients with these conditions daily, and many of them have a history of alcoholism,” Dr. Kamara said. “This crisis is feeding a surge in non-communicable diseases and mental health disorders.”
However, Margaret Nasanga, the coordinator of UAPA, noted that while the research findings highlight the impact of illicit alcohol, they overlook the significant harm caused by commercial alcohol, particularly through aggressive marketing, affordability, and targeting of young people.
She further emphasized the need for gender-responsive alcohol policies to protect women from alcohol-related harm.
